AIM: A random sample of general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs) and practice managers (PMs) in Sheffield and Manchester was recruited into a study to evaluate the perceptions of occupational health (OH) in primary care. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected using focus groups with three groups of primary care sector professionals. Quantitative data were collected nationally from 295 GPs using a postal questionnaire. RESULTS: GPs and PNs had minimal OH training, and 60% of GPs reported constraints in addressing OH matters with patients. The lack of referral routes (63 and 67%, respectively) was also seen as a barrier. OH was regarded as a speciality, and primary care professionals preferred to refer patients with OH problems to specialist centres because they perceived barriers to their dealing with the issues. A total of 74% of GPs surveyed thought that speedier access to secondary care would help them to address OH problems. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified some of the problems associated with delivering OH through primary care. It also demonstrated a need for greater emphasis on OH education in medical and nurse training, and a need for better advice for GPs, PNs and PMs regarding support services for OH.
AIM: A random sample of general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs) and practice managers (PMs) in Sheffield and Manchester was recruited into a study to evaluate the perceptions of occupational health (OH) in primary care. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected using focus groups with three groups of primary care sector professionals. Quantitative data were collected nationally from 295 GPs using a postal questionnaire. RESULTS: GPs and PNs had minimal OH training, and 60% of GPs reported constraints in addressing OH matters with patients. The lack of referral routes (63 and 67%, respectively) was also seen as a barrier. OH was regarded as a speciality, and primary care professionals preferred to refer patients with OH problems to specialist centres because they perceived barriers to their dealing with the issues. A total of 74% of GPs surveyed thought that speedier access to secondary care would help them to address OH problems. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified some of the problems associated with delivering OH through primary care. It also demonstrated a need for greater emphasis on OH education in medical and nurse training, and a need for better advice for GPs, PNs and PMs regarding support services for OH.
Authors: J F Gehanno; P Bulat; B Martinez-Jarreta; E A Pauncu; F Popescu; P B A Smits; F J H van Dijk; L Braeckman Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2013-04-19 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Jens Christian Jensen; Jens Peder Haahr; Poul Frost; Johan Hviid Andersen Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2012-09-16 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Patricia M Dekkers-Sánchez; Haije Wind; Judith K Sluiter; Monique H W Frings-Dresen Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2012-05-24 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Aydın Nuraydın; Özgür Bilek; Ali Koray Kenziman; Mehmet Ali Korkusuz; Ali İhsan Atagün; Nezaket Özpolat Çakar; Naci Özer; Serdar Deniz; Mustafa Kemal Başaralı; Ahmet Özlü; Abdulsamet Sandal; Gert Van der Laan; Ali Naci Yıldız Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2018-08-31 Impact factor: 2.462